Friday, July 31, 2009

Beijing Airport International School Run

The other direction along the river.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Beijing Airport Run

Managed to leave the airport runways behind and find a river and have a river run this morning. Very hazy and foggy, 75F. Quiet on roads being so early and few people cycling or walking to work. The road followed river and clearly in a flood zone. They were concreting part of the road so just like being at home with the road construction outside my house! Lots of fields, tree lined paths and marshland. Some fisherman were right in the river with hand nets. On the way back saw some local runners. Always great to know find running routes popular with locals. Will post the Garmin route when return home - as forgot the transfer device. Nice to have a rural run in Beijing after city center run in Shanghai. This time I knew google maps would mark the hotel inaccurately and I was able to corrcetly find hotel and recce potential routes much better. Passed goats, sheep being herded along the road. Plenty of people and their dogs that were all not interested in me. And usual amount of morning people standing and do the slapping thing with their arms.

Interestingy my blog ( and all google's) is blocked in China. Add that to youtube, twitter, facebook also blocked. Weird reminder that having an opinion and being able to publish thoughts, etc is a freedom so may of us just take for granted. At least by nature of internet anyone that is blocked can jump over to a non-chinese computer and still use the services. Reminds me of the situation when they had to broadcast the Beatles et al on ships off the UK coast line because the government banned their communication for a while.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Kenyan Way - Classic Hills

4 miles, Classic hill session at Memorial and Shepherd. After avoiding the usual hill session place due to April 28th "100 year" flood, finally returned to old stomping ground. Luckily nearer 93F than recent triple digits. Ran on 2 hill loop that avoided the bayou sand washout. Heart rate graph shows decent session. Brutal start and with 6 minuets btwn sessions, brutal restart. But worked it out. 2 mile warmup.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

4th July Holiday run

5 miles. Memorial Park Trails. Very cautious on this one. Middle of the afternoon run as off work early for the Independence Day weekend holiday. Took a Gatorade on run to help with dehydration. Everything dry in trails from the relentless record June heat. It was flooded a month ago. So looked for shade the whole way as had no sunscreen. Crazy hot so really slow - especially with sticking the whole way on trails. Discovered part of my favorite trails are now closed. I had to bushwhack through a section which I finally realized was purposely closed. It had 2 great hills as so close to the bayou. I know like alot of the hike only trails they flood. Didn't see any erosion that would require this part of the trail to close after 12 years running on them. Normally the trail evolves when a tree blocks the path.